Swivel gate-latch



C. C. ROSS.

SWIVEL GATE LATCH.

APPLICATION min JUNE 19. 1916.

hm 1 9 1 K0 1 w@ H A d m m a P Inventor Attorneys CHARLEY C. ROSS, OFSPRINGFIELD, MISSOURI.

SWIVEL GATE-LATCH.

Application filed June 19, 1916.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, CHARLES. C. Ross, a citizen of the United States,residing at Springfield, in the county of Greene and State of Missouri,have invented a new and useful Swivel Gate-Latch, of which the followingis a specification.

The device forming the subject matter of this application is adapted tobe employed for holding a gate against swinging movement, and one objectof the invention is to provide novel means for supporting a loopshapedkeeper rotatably on a fence post.

Another object of the invention is to improve the construction of thelatch which, being carried by the gate, cooperates with the keeper.

Another object of the invention is to improve the construction of therotatable keeper.

It is within the province of the disclosure to improve generally and toenhance the utility of devices of that type to which the presentinvention appertains.

With the above and other objects in view which will appear as thedescription proceeds, the invention resides in the combination andarrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafterdescribed and claimed, it being understood that changes in the preciseembodiment of the invention herein disclosed can be made within thescope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of theinvention. In the accompanying drawing :Figure 1 shows in frontelevation, a gate whereunto the device forming the subject matter ofthis application has been applied; Fig. 2 is a fragmental perspectiveshowing a portion of the gate, and showing the latch which is carried bythe gate; Fig. 3 is a fragmental perspective showing a portion of thegate post, the keeper which cooperates with the latch being shown inFig. 3; and Fig. 4 is a top plan of the keeper.

In carrying out the present invention there is provided a post 1wherewith is connected a fence 27. The fence post 1 has a notch 2 in itsforward edge, the notch defining an upper shoulder 3, a lower shoulder4, and a reduced upright 5 at the rear of the shoulders. The shoulders 3and 4 are parallel to each other, and are horizontally disposed. A lowerbolt 6 rests on the lower shoulder 41 and is supported thereby againstdownward bending, the bolt 6 passing Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 15, 1916.

Serial No. 104,590.

through the upright 5. The bolt 6 includes an eye 7, one flat side ofwhich rests on the lower shoulder at to prevent the bolt from rotatingon its axis. An upper bolt 8 passes through the post 1 above the uppershoulder 3 and includes an eye 9.

The invention comprises a keeper denoted generally by the numeral 10 andincluding a loop 11 adapted to swing in the notch 2, the loop 11carrying an upper spindle l2 and a lower spindle 1 1. The lower spindle14 is journaled in the eye 7 of the lower bolt G, and the upper spindle12 is journaled in the eye 9 of the upper bolt 8. The spindles 12 and 11 may be received for rotation in seats or grooves 15 formed in theforward edge of the post 1, although this detail is not insisted upon.The loop 11 of the keeper 10 comprises an upper bar 16, a lower bar 17and side bars 28 connecting the upper and lower bars 16 and 17. The bars16 and 17 of the loop 7 are parallel and horizontal. The lower bar 17 ofthe loop rests on the eye 7 of the lower bolt 6, to support the keeper10 for rotation. A portion of the upper bar 16 is adapted to engagebeneath the upper shoulder 3 of the post to prevent an upward movementof the keeper l0. Nuts 18 are threaded onto the rear ends of the bolts 8and G and coact with the rear edge of the post 1. Both of the nuts 18are'adjustable to vary the position of the spindles 12 and l lwithrespect to the vertical. The lowermost nut 18 is adjustable to cause thelower spindle to bear with a varying pressure against the forward edgeof the post 1, thereby to regulate the speed of rotation of the keeper10, it being noted, in this connection, that the lower bolt (3 may beretracted within the contour of the notch 2.

The numeral 19 designates a gate mounted as shown at 20 to swinghorizontally on a support 21.

The numeral 22 indicates a horizontal latch having elongated horizontalslots 23. Bolts 24 like securing devices are mounted in the slots 23 ofthe latch 22 and are engaged with the gate 19. The latch 22, therefore,is secured to the gate for adjustment toward and away from the keeper10, so as to cooperate with the keeper when the distance between thegate 19 and the post 1 varies, due to the dragging action of the fence27 on the post 1, or due to any other cause. The latch 22 terminates inoppositely projecting arms 25 having hooks 26 which extend backwardlytoward the latch 22 and are disposed substantially at right anglesthereto.

The operation of a gate of this type is well understood in the art, andit may therefore be stated briefly that when the gate 19 is swung aroundto a closed position, the latch 22 strikes one of the side bars 28 ofthe keeper 10 and rotates the keeper, the side bar 28 engaging with thehooks 26.

It is to be observed that, as shown at 29, the upper bar 16 and thelower bar 17 of the keeper 10 are reversely bent in opposite directions,upon opposite sides of the spindles l2 and H. Owing to thisconstruction, the keeper 10 is rotated through a smaller arc than wouldotherwise be the case, when one of the bars 28 of the keeper is engagedby the latch Further, the construction above mentioned will facilitatethe engagement between the bar 28 and the hooks 26 of the latch.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is 1. In a deviceof the class described, a support; a vertical keeper j'ournaled on thesupport, the keeper comprising a loop embodying upper and lower bars,side bars connecting the upper and lower bars, and spindles projectingin opposite directions from the upper and lower bars; means forsecuringthe spindles for rotation on the support; a horizontallyswinging gate; and a latch outstanding from the gate, the latchincluding oppositely projecting arms terminating in back bent hooks, thebills of which lie substantially at right angles to the latch; the upperand lower bars of the keeper being reversely bent in opposite directionson opposite sides of the spindles.

2. In a device of the class described, a fence post having a notch inits forward edge defining upper and lower parallel horizontal shouldersand a reduced upright at the rear of the shoulders; a lower bolt restingon the lower shoulder and supported thereby against downward bending,the bolt passing through the upright and including an eye one fiat sideof which rests on the lower shoulder to prevent the bolt from rotatingon its axis; an upper bolt passing through the post aboi e the uppershoulder and including an eye; a keeper comprising a loop adapted toswing in the notch, and upper and lower spindles at the ends of theloop, the spindles being disposed at the forward edge of the post andbeing journaled, respectively, in the eyes of the upper and lower bolts,the loop having parallel horizontal upper and lower edges, the loweredge of the loop resting on the eye of the lower bolt to support thekeeper for rota- Oopies of this patent may be obtainedfor five centseach, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

spect to the vertical, the lower nut being 7 adjustable to cause thelower spindle to bear with a varying pressure against the forward edgeof the post, thereby to regulate the speed'of rotation of the keeper; :1

horizontally swinging gate; a latch coacting,

with the keeper; and means for securing the latch to the gate foradjustment toward and away from the keeper, whereby the latch may bemade to cooperate with the keeper when the distance between the gate andthe post Varies.

3. In a device of the class described, a fence post having a notch inits forward edge defining upper and lower parallel horizontal shouldersand a reduced upright at the rear of the shoulders; at lower boltresting on the lower shoulder and supported thereby against downwardbending, the bolt passing through the upright and including an eye onefiat side of which rests on the lower shoulder to prevent the bolt fromrotating on its axis; an upper bolt passing through the post above theupper shoulder and including an eye; a keeper comprising a loop adaptedto swing in the notch, and upper and lower spindles at the ends of theloop, the spindles being disposed at the forward edge of the post andbeing journaled, respectively, in the eyes of the upper and lower bolts,the loop having parallel horizontal upper and lower edges, the loweredge of the loop resting on the eye of the lower bolt to support thekeeper for rotation, and a portion of the upper edge of the loop beingadapted to engage beneath the upper shoulder to prevent an upwardmovement of the keeper; nuts on the rear ends of the bolts and coactingwith the rear edge of the post, both nuts being adjustable to vary theposition of the spindles with respect to the vertical, the lower nutbeing adjustable to cause the lower spindle to bear with a varyingpressure against the forward edge of the post, thereby to regulate thespeed rotation of the keeper; a horizontally swinging gate; a latchcoacting with the keeper; and means for securing the latch to the gate.7

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto afiixedmy signa ture in the presence of two witnesses.

CHARLEY C. ROSS. Vitnesses:

GOLDIA E. BUoKNnR, J WV. VVATKINs.

Washington, I). O.

